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ESOC 2021 | CSF and PET biomarkers under investigation for CAA

Gargi Banerjee, BM BCh, MRCP, PhD, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, UK, discusses the promise of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and PET biomarkers for cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). In CAA, reductions in both amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) and amyloid-β40 (Aβ40) levels have been observed—a finding that has been replicated by multiple research centers. Some other CSF markers have the potential to make useful negative tests—for example, total tau and phosphorylated tau levels are maintained in patients with CAA, unlike in some neurodegenerative conditions. Dr Banerjee hopes for the development of a panel of CSF biomarkers to aid diagnosis of CAA, including measures associated with Aβ levels, and levels of ferritin and iron which have been observed to be elevated in CAA. Dr Banerjee discusses how current research is focused on improving the diagnostic accuracy of amyloid PET, like looking at the posterior PET signal versus the global signal to make Aβ PET imaging more specific for CAA. Another exciting avenue for PET biomarkers is the use of newer PET tracers like fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET scanning and tau PET scanning. This interview took place at the European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC), 2021.

Disclosures

Dr Banerjee receives research funding from Alzheimer’s Research UK, the NIHR, and the Stroke Association.